Use of Lectins for the Study of Membranes

Abstract

For many years it has been known that plant extracts possess the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes (Bird, 1959, Boyd, 1963; Sharon and Lis, 1972). It was recognized quite early that this agglutination is the result of the specific interaction of certain proteins found in the extracts with sugars on the surface of erythrocytes (Sumner and Howell, 1936). However, the vast possibilities which these proteins, presently known as lectins, open for the study of cell surfaces and membranes in general are only now being appreciated (Sharon and Lis, 1972; Burger, 1973; Lis and Sharon, 1973). This has occurred simultaneously with the growing recognition of the important role that sugars located on the cell surface play in the life of cells (Roseman, 1970; Winzler, 1970; Ginsburg and Kobata, 1971; Ashwell and Morell, 1974). Although sugars comprise only a small proportion (2–10%) of the weight of the cellular membrane, they are believed to provide cells with recognition patterns, give them individuality, and play a decisive role in the “social life” of the cell. Any reagent which is specific for sugars on surfaces is therefore an important aid for cell biologists.

Borberg, H., Yesner, I., Gesner, B., and Silber, R., 1968, The effect of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and other sugars on the mitogenic activity and attachment of PHA to tonsil cells, Blood31:747–757.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Chase, P. S., and Miller, F., 1973, Preliminary evidence for the structure of the concanavalin A binding site on human lymphocytes that induces mitogenesis, Cell. Immunol. 6:132–139.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Nicolson, G. L., 1971, Difference in the topology of normal and tumor cell membranes as shown by different distributions of ferritin-conjugated concanavalin A on their surfaces, Nature New Biol. 233:244.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Torpier, G., and Montagnier, L., 1973, Studies of the ultrastructure of concanavalin A receptor sites at the surface of normal cells and cells transformed by oncogenic viruses, Int. J. Cancer11:604–615.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Williams, M. A., and Voak, D., 1972, Studies with ferritin-labelled Dolichos biflorus lectin on the number and distribution of A sites on A1 and A2 erythrocytes, and on the nature of its specificity and enhancement by enzymes, Br. J. Haematol. 23:427–441.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar